People from Victoria's coronavirus hotspots will be banned from entering NSW and will face an $11,000 fine or six months' jail time if they breach that order, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has announced.
In NSW, 14 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, all in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said people from Victoria's hotspots are banned from entering NSW.Credit:Edwina Pickles
"The Victorian situation should be taken very, very seriously," Mr Hazzard said on Wednesday morning. "It's a reminder to us that this virus is amongst us and we could have an outbreak at any stage."
Mr Hazzard said that, while NSW normally loved travellers from interstate, those from virus hotspots in Melbourne were not currently welcome.
"We're sorry; that's not something we want to do, but we must do for our own safety," he said.
"As soon as you set foot in NSW you'll be exposed to the possibility of six months' jail or an $11,000 fine."
The Health Minister warned anyone from NSW who travels to the Victorian hotspots would be liable for the same penalties.
"If you choose to go there when you really shouldn't be going there, and you come back to NSW, you'll be required to go into isolation here for 14 days," Mr Hazzard said.
"And if you breach that order, you'll be liable to a penalty ... it could be an $11,000 fine or a six-month jail sentence."
Mr Hazzard said the NSW Health order banning Victorian hotspot travellers was 90 per cent complete, and he would sign the order later on Wednesday.
"I expect that our orders will become operative from midnight tonight," he said.
Mr Hazzard stressed that people in NSW – and particularly younger people – should continue to take the pandemic seriously.
"I am concerned that young people particularly think that they are invincible and immortal," he said.
"Well, no. You're very mortal, and we have had people as young as 17 across the world who have passed away ... so you need to take it seriously."
The Health Minister's warning comes with the news that one of the 63 COVID-19 patients being treated by NSW Health has been moved to intensive care. That patient does not require a ventilator.
More than 16,000 tests were conducted in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, up from 12,250 in the previous reporting period.
With Mary Ward
More to come
Rachel Clun is a journalist at The Sydney Morning Herald.
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2020-07-01 01:14:28Z
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